Stock skid plates “failing”

[Syr4RinNC]

I’m curious if any has any direct experience of the stock skid plates getting punctured or bent enough to damage the drive train, engine, gas tank etc?

I understand the valuable parts underneath the car. However, so far with some off roading and mild- moderate rock crawling my stock skids have done the job.

Does anyone have any cautionary tales to share such that I should make after market skids a priority for my future upgrades?

 

[gimlithepirate]

I’m curious if any has any direct experience of the stock skid plates getting punctured or bent enough to damage the drive train, engine, gas tank etc?

I understand the valuable parts underneath the car. However, so far with some off roading and mild- moderate rock crawling my stock skids have done the job.

Does anyone have any cautionary tales to share such that I should make after market skids a priority for my future upgrades?

The 4runner skid system is surprisingly well designed. If you don't put the weight of the car on the front skid, you are unlikely to make it totally "fail".

The bigger problem is coverage. Both your transmission and transfer case are relatively vulnerable stock.

The thing is, the nibbly bits that aftermarket skids protect are all really, really expensive, or instant day ruiners. For example, if you slip off a rock and hit the actuator on your transfer case, not only could you end up stuck, but a new OEM unit is something like 3k$. On top of that, our components sit relatively low in the frame. Look under a jeep vs one of our sometime, most of the jeep components sit above the base of the frame rail (but they come with no skids stock.

Long story short, a set of skids is probably the best investment you can make in terms of longevity of an offroad rig. I'd say in terms of importance for armor the order is rock sliders, skids, a big gap, front bumper, another big gap, rear bumper. The only conditions I would say that order changes on are if you get a big lift and tires, but only plan to overland so you aren't in the rocks that much.

That said, definitely a "do as I say, not as I do" moment.... I took mine into Elephant Hill with all stock protection. Looking at the bottom of my truck, I also got lucky though.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I agree with above.

One other thing I could easily see the stock front skid being bent up enough it no longer fits back on, if you were to take it off for maintenance.

The stock gas tank skid has held up well for me, I've abused it probably more than anybody. That said after the Rubicon trail its time to do something different for that skid plate.

 

[aemravan]

After my recent outing to Uwharrie I was wondering the same thing..

I'm on 35's with a 1in BL and 3in suspension lift and don't do any crazy rock crawling, but there were a couple of times that I managed to slip laterally without anticipating and sit it down on the tank skid a few times. An after-trip inspection looked decent, I was expecting to see it worse than what it was, so I don't anticipate these things failing under mild use.. but, like mentioned above, I would be more concerned about the total coverage vs aftermarket armor.

The front skid plate is the one I would have most concern with, especially since I have the diff drop that already makes it fun to install back.. that skid plate bends just sitting off the car in the driveway lol.

One other thing that apparently I brushed across a couple of rocks was the rear pumpkin according to my brother who was behind me.

The way I see it is that aftermarket armor stuff is like car insurance.. If you have it, you always wonder why you need it.. until you need it, and you don't have it

ps: just priced out an RCI set of skids for the hell of it to get an idea, $1365 in steel before shipping, lol. At some point I'll go this route, for the time being i'll try to stay within the safe limits of what the rig is currently capable of.

 

[ads2539]

The major issue for me with the stock front skid was rust. It was hanging on by just two or three bolts, and a mechanic (my brother) just ripped it off. Right now, I have no skids, other than OEM under the gas tank.

 

[kcdehart]

Yeah, I accidentally put the entire weight of my vehicle on the stock front skid...ended up with a slightly tweaked front crossmember.

My LFD front skid can now easily hold the vehicle. I plan to get the rest of their skids, but only the front was released when I first upgraded. For <$200 it's worth every penny for peace of mind, imo. And what others have said is correct - you want more protection than the stock skids offer. I'll add that rear UCA skids are also a good idea.

 

[gimlithepirate]

This should tell OP everything he needs to know about the Gas tank skid. It held up to Rubicon lol.

The other thing I will say is that this isn't an all or nothing situation. If right now you can't afford more, buying just the transfer case and transmission skids is a massive improvement.

 

[Toyrundrive]

Rubicon trail must not be that tough then.

I murdered my stock skids.

Bent the fuel tank skid so bad I lost a lot of fuel tank capacity.

Wore holes in the front skid pretty quickly.

They're air dams, not skid plates. They won't protect anything from rocks. They do ok for sticks and if you're just playing in the mud they're fine.

RCI makes good stuff but they're not compatible with the diff drop. Not sure the diff drop is really useful though.

I ran the front skid too long and now one of the bolts destroyed the threads on the nut so I have to figure that out. Probably gonna knock the nut out and weld something like an M10 up in there.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Rubicon trail must not be that tough then.

I murdered my stock skids.

Bent the fuel tank skid so bad I lost a lot of fuel tank capacity.

My tank capacity is reduced too, but that was after Blanca Peak.

I have 37's so take that for what it's worth. But yes the stock fuel tank skid has held up to years of abuse on 33's, 35's, and now with 37's it survived the Rubicon.



My RCI front skid after the Rubicon. I had to bend it back for it to even fit back on.

 

[Toyrundrive]

My tank capacity is reduced too, but that was after Blanca Peak.

I have 37's so take that for what it's worth. But yes the stock fuel tank skid has held up to years of abuse on 33's, 35's, and now with 37's it survived the Rubicon.



My RCI front skid after the Rubicon. I had to bend it back for it to even fit back on.

I beat the piss out of my RCI skids at Chinamen gulch. I was way overweight and squatting pretty good on my OME lift. 4"lift in the rear but I had to drop the panhard down a peg to get it level again. Ran a small gouge in the diff skid and bent the bracket pretty good. Polished my driveshaft with the mount!

Don't know what you'd have to do to bend the front skid, I usually land somewhere in the middle of my front skid, occasionally nail it in the front corner.

I've high centered on the plates with all 4 off the ground a few times, my dog is a terrible spotter.

After my last colorado trip I'm down some fuel tank capacity again, this time it's the brackets that bent.

I should just do a fuel cell in the cargo area and stop wheeling alone... Lol


What's going on with your trailing arm mount skids?

 

[Inv4drZm]

I beat the piss out of my RCI skids at Chinamen gulch. I was way overweight and squatting pretty good on my OME lift. 4"lift in the rear but I had to drop the panhard down a peg to get it level again. Ran a small gouge in the diff skid and bent the bracket pretty good. Polished my driveshaft with the mount!

Don't know what you'd have to do to bend the front skid, I usually land somewhere in the middle of my front skid, occasionally nail it in the front corner.

I've high centered on the plates with all 4 off the ground a few times, my dog is a terrible spotter.

After my last colorado trip I'm down some fuel tank capacity again, this time it's the brackets that bent.

I should just do a fuel cell in the cargo area and stop wheeling alone... Lol


What's going on with your trailing arm mount skids?

The trailing arms skids are just held on by the bolt going through the arm, so sometimes they pivot downward when they hit a rock. Hasn't been a huge issue for me I've probably loosened the bolt and bumped them back up twice since I've had them. My brother welded them to the frame which does the trick too.